Anyway: Choral Octavo SoundTrax CD

This arrangement by Greg Gilpin captures the emotional core of McBride's #1 hit while making it genuinely singable for school choirs. The message of resilience built into the title and lyrics creates natural programming momentum, especially for concerts where you want to send students out feeling inspired rather than just entertained. Directors consistently report that students connect immediately with this piece, both to the melody and to what the song is actually saying.

Warm, determined, and ultimately hopeful. The ballad unfolds with a quiet confidence, building emotional weight through its central message without ever becoming overwrought. By the final chorus, the piece radiates the kind of quiet strength that comes from choosing to act or believe or love despite obstacles.

This octavo works for mixed choirs in grades 9-12 and adult community ensembles looking for contemporary repertoire with real substance. The singable ranges and accessible voicing make it manageable for choirs of moderate skill while the message and musical craftsmanship keep it engaging for advanced singers.

• Balance the recorded accompaniment carefully during early rehearsals so singers can lock onto the melody, then gradually fade it as the choir internalizes the line.
• Shape the repeated "anyway" phrases with intentional dynamics; each repetition should carry slightly more conviction than the last, building toward the final statement.
• Address any tendency to rush the tempo during the more energetic passages. The piece's power comes from clarity, not speed.
• Experiment with part-specific entrance timings if the arrangement includes staggered entries; tight coordination here will define the piece's character.

This is a natural anchor for spring or year-end concerts where you want to leave the audience (and your singers) with something meaningful. Consider pairing it with other contemporary pop arrangements to create a cohesive set, or place it as a closing piece on a mixed program to send singers and listeners home with its message intact.

• Sustaining lyrical legit singing in contemporary pop idiom
• Shaping repeated melodic phrases with musical intention rather than rote repetition
• Blending with recorded accompaniment while maintaining independent vocal control
• Interpreting modern songwriting conventions in a choral context